Is Bellefontaine or Columbus Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Bellefontaine is safer than Columbus (Safety Score 78/100 vs 18/100), with a total crime rate of 896 per 100,000 versus 3,088 for Columbus — 71% lower. Bellefontaine has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Bellefontaine has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Columbus is 65.1x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Bellefontaine — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Columbus — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Bellefontaine, OH
Columbus, OH
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Bellefontaine | Columbus | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 896.1 | 3,088.3 | -2,192.2 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 106.7 | 435.0 | -328.3 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 12.2 | -12.2 |
| Rape Rate | 0.0 | 124.2 | -124.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 0.0 | 87.7 | -87.7 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 106.7 | 210.7 | -104.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 789.4 | 2,653.4 | -1,863.9 |
| Burglary Rate | 64.0 | 404.5 | -340.5 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 668.5 | 1,706.1 | -1,037.5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 56.9 | 542.8 | -485.9 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bellefontaine or Columbus safer?
Bellefontaine is safer with a total crime rate of 896 per 100K vs 3,088 for Columbus — a 71% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Bellefontaine has a violent crime rate of 106.7 per 100K while Columbus has 435.0. Bellefontaine has lower violent crime.
About Bellefontaine, OH
Bellefontaine, Ohio, home to the first concrete street in America, is a small city in Logan County. It sits at the highest elevation in Ohio, attracting visitors to Campbell Hill. With a safety score of 78/100 and a population coverage of 14,061, Bellefontaine has a total crime rate of 896.1 per 100,000 residents.
About Columbus, OH
Columbus, Ohio, the state capital, sits at the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers. Home to The Ohio State University, it's a diverse city with a growing population of over 900,000 residents. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 915,447, Columbus has a total crime rate of 3,088.3 per 100,000 residents.